City guide · Tromsø
Tromsø
'Gateway to the Arctic': a city of explorers in the auroral zone
Tromsø sits on a small island in northern Norway, inside the auroral zone, so in winter you can chase the northern lights in town or nearby. The Arctic Cathedral, the University of Tromsø and its history of polar exploration give this small city real weight.
History
How the city came to be
In the 17th century Denmark-Norway built a fort here. On 20 June 1794 Tromsø, with only about 80 inhabitants, received its town charter; in the 19th century it was called 'the Paris of the North'. Amundsen, Nobile, Nansen and other polar explorers came here to gain Arctic experience and recruit crews. In 1928 Amundsen disappeared during an Arctic rescue mission; wreckage of his plane was later found off the coast near Tromsø. Tromsø Airport opened in 1964 and the University of Tromsø was founded in 1972, then the only university serving northern Norway. The Arctic Cathedral was completed in 1965.
- 1794Received its town charter, with only about 80 inhabitants
- 19th centuryCalled 'the Paris of the North'
- 1928Amundsen disappeared during an Arctic rescue mission
- 1965The Arctic Cathedral was completed
- 1972The University of Tromsø was founded
Stories
Stories of the city
History · Tromsø and the Arctic Cathedral
Solving the mystery of the aurora with a magnetised sphere
The Norwegian physicist Kristian Birkeland built a series of observatories at high latitudes in northern Norway to collect magnetic data beneath the auroral zone; his 1899–1900 Norwegian polar expedition was the first to derive the global distribution of polar electric currents from ground-based magnetic measurements. In his laboratory he also simulated the Earth with a small magnetised sphere and fired electron beams at it; the electrons were guided towards the 'poles', forming glowing rings around them — from which he deduced that the aurora is produced in the same way. To fund his research he even invented an electromagnetic cannon.
History · Tromsø and the Arctic Cathedral
The explorers' port of departure
Polar explorers such as Amundsen, Nobile and Nansen relied on Tromsø people's knowledge of the Arctic and often recruited crews here. In 1911 Amundsen became the first person to reach the South Pole. In June 1928 he flew north in a French-built seaplane to search for the crashed airship 'Italia' and never returned; a float and a fuel tank from the plane were later found off the coast near Tromsø.
Before you go
Rules to know in Tromsø
Norway: register before flying a drone
- Register as an operator in Norway or an EU/EFTA country and buy liability insurance
- Check no-fly zones
- Flying a drone without registering
Breaks Norwegian aviation rules; some areas are no-fly zones.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Norway travel advice
Norway: fires are banned in many hiking areas in summer
- Check the local fire ban before you set out
- Lighting a campfire where fires are banned
Police enforce the ban.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Norway travel advice
Norway: very strict drink-driving limits
- If you have drunk alcohol, don't drive
- Judging by your home country's standards that you are still fit to drive
The drink-driving limit is about a quarter of England's, and can mean a fine or even prison; on-the-spot fines for other traffic offences reach NOK 10,000.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Norway travel advice